Town have reiterated that manager Paul Lambert retains the support of owner Marcus Evans in the wake of local newspaper calls for a change at the top at Portman Road.

This evening, the EADT/Ipswich Star joined the widespread clamour for Lambert’s exit via a comment piece from editor Brad Jones with the club responding in a statement released to the papers.

Saturday’s 1-0 home loss to Peterborough, the Blues’ fifth home defeat in six, saw them drop to ninth in the table, two points off the play-offs but now 10 from the automatic promotion spots.

The club statement reads: “While we are very disappointed that the EADT/Ipswich Star has taken this stance, we fully understand the frustrations of supporters with recent results.

“The performances and results of the opening stages of the season have not been mirrored over the last two months or so and the manager, staff and players are fully aware that there needs to be an improvement if we are to achieve the goal of promotion back to the Championship this year.

“Owner Marcus Evans has recently reiterated his support for the manager and with players now coming back from injury and the recent addition of Josh Harrop and Luke Thomas to add competition to the squad, he - and everyone at the club - remains fully behind the management and players in the challenge ahead.

“We are two points off the play-offs with games in hand on nearly all the clubs above us and we have not yet reached the halfway point in the season. There is a lot of football to be played yet, 75 points up for grabs in what is a very challenging season on many fronts.

“So yes, we understand the frustrations of the local newspaper and yes, we understand the frustrations of the supporters. The manager, his staff and the players are frustrated as well but they are determined to turn those frustrations into celebrations.”

TWTD, with reporter Phil Ham still banned from player and manager press conferences at the behest of Lambert, has also backed the calls for a change.

Despite Town’s continued public support of Lambert, we understand the 51-year-old Scot’s future is increasingly in question as the Blues drift further away from the top six with a tough home game against seventh-placed Sunderland on Tuesday and a similarly testing visit to Crewe Alexandra, who are eighth, on Saturday.

Town have beaten only two teams currently in the top 10, Accrington and Crewe earlier in the campaign when the Railwaymen were well down the table, while losing eight games against sides at the division's top end.

Former Portsmouth and Wigan boss Paul Cook and ex-Lincoln and Huddersfield boss Danny Cowley are believed to be high on the list of potential successors if and when Lambert departs, while we understand Neil Harris, who left Cardiff City earlier in the week before being replaced by one-time Blues boss Mick McCarthy, is also among those who would be considered.

Many fans have called for the job to be given to ex-Town midfielder and current U23s coach Kieron Dyer with Terry Butcher, also currently working with the U23s, as his assistant.

Photo: Matchday Images

Dolphinblue added 05:37 - Jan 25 Butcher/Dyer in now!
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tractorboybig added 07:24 - Jan 25 The trouble is when a ticket tout owns our beloved club every thing drops to his standard and he is the dregs.
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Umros added 07:36 - Jan 25 Yeah whatever. Continue to do what you want Evans but in true Dragons Den style “I'm out”
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loudnproud added 07:57 - Jan 25 If you dont like whats being offered at the club then stop ploughing your hard earned money into the club.....Money is the only thing ME understands. Yes i know that by doing so we could become another Bury or Glasgow Rangers.....But we are heading that way anyway. Im Itching to get back to the Terraces...But i want to do so enjoying the experience...
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Skip73 added 08:27 - Jan 25 I, for one, won't be supporting the club from now on. They don't deserve the support fron anyone.
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Bluespeed added 08:30 - Jan 25 So now it's a case of “ go away you silly little newspaper & tell our fans we know best “ about time we all took a stand & cancel season tickets it's the only language money men understand!!
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1RWR added 08:47 - Jan 25 Evans is no fool, there'll be clauses all over Lamberts contract that can & will get him out of the door. Evans will realise that future season ticket sales depend on where we finish this season.....and......his [ME's] reaction to this latest 'Lambert out' saga. I'm close to ending my affair with ITFC after 45 years, sad times, very sad times.
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:26 - Jan 25 the names mentioned are just the names people have been putting up on here, NOT actual targets or likely candidates IMO, Just juicing up to make some news,. And as has already been said Evans isnt going to say , yer Pauls a tosser, im getting rid in a week or two, he has no choice but to say they back him if he cant say im going to sack him. We wont know anything till it happens, if it happens. A couple more crap performance losses and he may be pulling the trigger.Games in hand mean nothing till you win them, look where the games in hand got us last season, we were on top with games in hand .

5

spanishblue added 09:27 - Jan 25 Joke owner joke whateverO'Neil is apart from mouthpiece, the biggest Joker of them all a clueless manager who has no idea, really really really an a crap manager but yes you were a good player but this has to end, much more of this I cannot take, Sheepshanks you dropped us in it with this fool of an owner
2

Michael101 added 09:28 - Jan 25 Well if Evans sacks Lambert(thinks he's to tight to do it) ,please let somebody else pick the new boss,evans will give the job to someone like Holloway or pullis not someone any good.
2

Nazemariner added 09:38 - Jan 25 Daft story. The club will continue to support the manager until it no longer supports the manager and sacks him. Hopefully that day comes sooner rather than later.
3

MonkeyAlan added 09:41 - Jan 25 Evans you muppet. So. Out of touch, you are deluded. You won't have a fan base soon. Because l won't be back until Lambert has gone and you show some interest in this football club. Not a penny more will you get from me you horrible little man.
4

BettyBlue added 09:45 - Jan 25 Evans and Lambert you can keep your football and the club. Goodbye.
4

Edmundo added 09:46 - Jan 25 Maybe we should invite the Judiciary of Rio over to the next game Marcus is at: wouldn't cost much, maybe a quid each, and then he'll be banged up in a Brazilian cooler and we can get a proper benefactor in.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 10:03 - Jan 25 It feels like the club has been hollowed out, anything of substance or lasting value has been sold, ie a list as long as my arm of players we have had who have gone on to have good careers elsewhere, starting with Cresswell through Mings more recently McGoldrick and Waghorn. Injuries suggest being the scenes is no better. Standard corporate stuff no doubt, I have started to focus less on guessing the motives and more at what is actually happening. ME is either massively incompetent or very competent depending upon his motivation.

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 10:04 - Jan 25 behind the scenes
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Razor added 10:22 - Jan 25 Butcher has done nothing and Dyer no experience-----wot we need now is somebody who has had a rest is raring to go and plays open entertaining attacking football and has done it before----- EDDIE HOWE NOW
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Gcon added 10:25 - Jan 25 Lambert obviously needs to go, ASAP. However, let's be very clear - Evans is the real villain in the demise of this club.
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grubbyoik added 10:36 - Jan 25 Its all down to the clauses in that 5 year contract...Evans has trapped himself.. it will cost him to het rid and he knows it.. hence this game of cat and mouse.. priceless literally
1

superbob added 10:48 - Jan 25 looks like Fat Frank could be available soon!!
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Texastom added 10:50 - Jan 25 Bye Lambert and take your staff with you. Great news, this is another pounding towards Evans whose the man we eventually need to remove. The more decisions he gets wrong the more pressure he will be under. All this can only be good. That and fans not buying season tickets.
3

BluedanW added 10:58 - Jan 25 At last people are seeing Evans for what he really is. The last 13 years Evans has been like the family vet keeping us alive, but letting the club suffer. it would of been more humane for the club to have gone bust suddenly back then, than this agonisingly slow death this once great club is enduring.
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Marinersnose added 11:16 - Jan 25 We all know that the issue with ITFC is ME however he is without a doubt keeping the club afloat. He will not want to pay the massive compensation to PL so we are stuck with him. I very much doubt that there are too many managers out there who could work under this regime and be a success. We are in a cycle of failure both on and off the pitch brought about by ME and subsequently PL , PH and MM. Those that call for Dyer I think are speaking with their hearts. Butcher has some experience Dyer has none and needs to start at the bottom and cut his managerial teeth. Very depressing days at our club who have been on the decline for many years.

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sydneytown added 11:26 - Jan 25 Frank Lampard is available lol
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brendenward35 added 11:51 - Jan 25 Frank is free everyone come on Marcus speak to your mate Harry get him over for a chat
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